For Immediate Release
June 17, 2009
(WEST TRENTON, N.J.) -- Interested paddlers are reminded that it is not too late to register for the 15th annual Delaware River Sojourn, which will be held from Sunday, June 21 through Saturday, June 27. The sojourn combines canoeing, kayaking, camping, educational programs, and more.
The theme for this year’s sojourn is “No One Left Inside,” encouraging people of all ages and experience levels to get outdoors and experience all that nature has to offer. It expands on the national slogan of "No Child Left Inside," which recognizes concern over the phenomenon of Nature Deficit Disorder affecting today's kids.
The sojourn is suitable for people with varying paddling skills, and daily distances will range from five to 12 miles. Sojourners may sign up for the entire seven-day trip or for the day(s) of their choice. Participants may bring their own river-worthy boat, but aluminum canoes are not recommended.
The $70 per person daily registration fee ($50 for children age 15 and under) covers the guided river trip, canoe/kayak rental, shuttle transportation, educational programs, meals, a souvenir T-shirt, and optional overnight camping sites. An additional one-time $5 per person insurance fee will be charged to non-members of the American Canoe Association, which sanctions the event.
Additional information, including daily itineraries and driving directions, is available on the sojourn web site at www.delawareriversojourn.org. While mail-in registration is no longer available, interested parties may still register from June 18 until two days prior to the day they wish to paddle. Participants can either register online at http://riversojourn.org/sojournstore/index.php with a credit card or they can call in their registration information to DeJay Branch of the Upper Delaware Preservation Coalition at (646) 205-2724. For those who choose to call in, please leave your name, contact information, day(s) you wish to paddle and # of people, whether you (and those with you, if applicable) will need a canoe or kayak or are bringing your own, and whether you plan to camp; a cash or check payment will then be collected at that morning’s check-in.
A limited number of “walk-in” registrants will be accepted on the morning of each sojourn day, provided that space is still available on the trip; however, it is recommended to register ahead of time to definitively secure a spot on the sojourn.
This non-profit, annual event is organized by a steering committee representing various organizations and government agencies in the Delaware River Basin. This year’s committee is co-chaired by Dick Rhodes of the National Canoe Safety Patrol and Kate O’Hara of the Delaware River Basin Commission.
